Zeng Guofan, the founder of the Hunan Army and the head of the four famous ministers of the late Qing Dynasty, the course of his life is really tortuous. Born in the thirteenth year of Daoguang (1833), this year, although the Manchu Dynasty still had its superficial prosperity, internal and external troubles began to appear. Zeng Guofan's family style is rigorous, his father Zeng Wen is honest, honest, knowledgeable, and has good intentions for the education of the national domain. When he was a teenager, he showed his extraordinary ambition and diligence, and was not afraid of the difficulties of the imperial examination, and finally in the first year of Xianfeng (1851), he received frequent good news and became a high school scholar. The wisdom of Zeng Guofan
However, the world was not peaceful, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom uprising raged in the Central Plains, the imperial court was helpless, but the national domain with its unique insight and extraordinary talent, formed the Hunan army, and became famous in one fell swoop. He governed the army strictly, took the Confucian concept of governing the country as the core of military discipline, and practiced the way of "Confucian generals", and was a gentleman among soldiers. Zeng Guofan's military talent and concept of governing the country made him perform many miraculous feats in a series of battles to suppress the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and he was rewarded and ranked in the court. During this period, Zeng Guofan set an example, emphasizing honesty and public service, governing the army on the one hand, governing officials on the other, helping to eliminate the foreigners, and maintaining peace inside and outside.
However, Zeng Guofan, who was in power for a while, acted like a smooth stream, never confrontation with rigidity, but did not panic and responded indifferently. If he loses, he will reflect deeply and discipline himself strictly, so he can use the Confucian golden mean to deal with the affairs of the court and government, and achieve the achievements of a generation of famous ministers. His life may not be lacking in controversy, but his wisdom in life that has been tempered is really worth playing for future generations.
Zeng Guofan's famous sayings are quite numerous, which have been passed down to this day, and although his words are concise, they contain far-reaching meaning. For example, "if you are poor, you will be good to yourself, and if you are good, you will help the world", which reflects the supreme pursuit of Confucianism, not only to cultivate oneself and unite one's family, but also to have the world in mind and take into account the general righteousness. Another example is "there is no breadth of talent without learning, and there is no way to learn without ambition", which shows the rigor of its academic attitude, and knows the importance of learning, the direction of ambition, and the success or failure of things, all of which are related to the breadth of knowledge and the firmness of ambition. His words "I have three times a day and three provinces of my body" reflects his strict requirements for self-cultivation, and daily reflection is the foundation of self-cultivation.
If Mr. Qian Zhongshu's style of writing is used to discuss Zeng Guofan, it may be said that "it has been applied to the world and learned from China and the West." Tao is strategically born, both civil and military. "Mr. Qian's essays are often subtle and poetic, and they are quite ingenious when commenting on historical figures. If Mr. Qian is alive, he will definitely be able to show Zeng Guofan's life and his famous words in words.
So, under the pretense of Mr. Qian Zhongshu's pen, how should Zeng Guofan be evaluated? Mr. Qian might have written:
Zeng Guofan, the word Bohan, the number Disheng, the figure of the late Qing Dynasty, his life can be said to have written a history of life struggle. Since childhood, he has been influenced by family education, and in his middle age, he has appointed himself as a Confucian general, and in his later years, he regarded himself as a famous minister. His life is as colorful as embroidery, but it is as bumpy as the road. In him, you can see the profound influence of Confucianism, and you can also see the epitome of social change in the late Qing Dynasty. His life is not only an epic of his own struggle, but also a microcosm of the changes of the times.
Standing in the midst of the rolling river of history, Zeng Guofan is like a bridge that is both solid and agile, connecting the classical wisdom of Confucianism with the modern art of statecraft. The reason why he can become a generation of famous ministers is because he has a vision and mind that transcends the times. He is not only able to control the situation and lead the army, but also has a deep cultural heritage and philosophical thinking. His way of governing the army and his policies for governing the country all reveal profound thoughts and unique insights.
His famous sayings, such as "The rise and fall of the world, the husband is responsible", is not only a slogan, but also a true portrayal of his life's actions. He knows that the power of the individual is small, but when gathered, it is enough to move the wheel of history. He was in his position to seek his own government, and he was far-sighted, trying to turn the tide with his own strength and help the Qing court tide over the difficulties. Whether it is dealing with the government or the military, he always has a sense of responsibility and mission, and he fulfills his duties and lives up to his trust.
Zeng Guofan's life, as Qian Zhongshu said: "The wonders, wonders, and extraordinary achievements of the world cannot be done unless they have the way, virtue, and perseverance." The reason why he was able to gain a foothold in troubled times was not only because of his extraordinary intelligence and courage, but also because he had the moral sentiments and perseverance cultivated by Confucian education. He may not be an infallible hero, but his achievements and influence are indeed a witness to history.
In short, Zeng Guofan not only left his name in history for his military talents, but also had a profound impact on later generations with his noble personality and philosophy of governance. As Mr. Qian Zhongshu described in "The Siege of the City", life is a besieged city, "people outside the city want to enter, and people in the city want to come out". Although Zeng Guofan was under siege in troubled times, he always maintained a heart that was detached from things, not burdened by fame and fortune, not confused by power, and always took the world as his own responsibility and national affairs as the priority. His life is like a magnificent historical picture, showing how a person sticks to his original intention and never forgets his mission in turbulent times, and finally leaves an immortal reputation and a precious spiritual legacy.